Cardinals–Seahawks rivalry

Cardinals–Seahawks rivalry

Cardinals and Seahawks face off during the 2007 season.
Arizona Cardinals Seattle Seahawks
Location	Phoenix, Seattle
First meeting	September 12, 1976 Cardinals 30, Seahawks 24
Latest meeting	January 7, 2024 Seahawks 21, Cardinals 20
Next meeting	November 24, 2024
Stadiums	Cardinals: State Farm Stadium Seahawks: Lumen Field
Statistics
Meetings total	50
All-time series	Seahawks: 27–22–1
Largest victory	Cardinals: 27–3 (2009) Seahawks: 58–0 (2012)
Longest win streak	Cardinals: 5 (1976–1995) Seahawks: 5 (2021–present)
Current win streak	Seahawks: 5 (2021–present)

500km
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Seahawks

Cardinals

  

Locations of the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks

The Cardinals–Seahawks rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

This is one of the newer rivalries in the NFL, emerging in the early 2000s, as the two teams only became rivals after both were relocated to the NFC West as a result of the league's realignment in 2002. This rivalry has become one of the NFL's more bitter in recent years, as the mid-to-late 2010s often saw the Seahawks and Cardinals squaring off for NFC West supremacy.

The Seahawks lead the overall series, 27–22–1. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

History

1976–2001: Early years

The Seahawks came into the league in 1976 as an expansion team and play the Cardinals six times as an inter-conference opponent. As a St. Louis-based team, the Cardinals won both meetings between the two franchises, and as an Arizona-based franchise, the Cardinals went 3–1 against the Seahawks. The Cardinals won the first five games of the series until the Seahawks beat the Cardinals 33–14 at the Kingdome in 1998.

2002–2011: Move to NFC West

The rivalry between the Cardinals and Seahawks became a full-fledged one in 2002, when the two teams were placed in the NFC West as part of the NFL realignment. The teams split their 2000s meetings, going 8–8 against each other. Both teams swept the other en route to Super Bowl appearances, with the Seahawks sweeping the Cardinals in 2005 en route to a Super Bowl XL berth and the Cardinals returning the favor in 2008 en route to an appearance in Super Bowl XLIII.

In 2010, the Seahawks hired Pete Carroll as head coach. Carroll won his first three meetings against the Cardinals as Seahawks coach, before the Cardinals beat the Seahawks 23–20 in overtime in the final week of the 2011 season.

2012–2018: Fight for NFC West supremacy

In 2012, the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. After winning the starting job, Wilson's first game with the Seahawks was against the Cardinals in Arizona. With a last-second goal-line stand, the Cardinals won 20–16, which would be their last home win over the Seahawks until 2020. The Seahawks, however, exacted revenge with a 58–0 home win in Week 14. The Seahawks defense, which had become known as the Legion of Boom by this point, intercepted Cardinals quarterback John Skelton four times and scored two defensive touchdowns, while running back Marshawn Lynch scored three rushing touchdowns in the victory.

The next year, the Cardinals hired Bruce Arians as head coach and traded for quarterback Carson Palmer. Although Palmer lost his first game against the Seahawks at home in Week 7, he would overcome four interceptions to lead a last-second touchdown drive that would win the Week 16 rematch 17–10. Both teams finished with double-digit wins, but while the 13–3 Seahawks won the division (and went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII), the 10–6 Cardinals missed the playoffs.

In 2014, the Cardinals jumped out to a 9–1 start while the Seahawks began the season 6–3. However, Palmer suffered a torn ACL in Week 10 and missed both meetings against the Seahawks that season, which led to the Seahawks accumulating their first sweep of the Cardinals since 2010. This included a 35–6 Sunday Night Football road win in Week 16 that clinched the division for the Seahawks for the second-straight season. The Seahawks went on to Super Bowl XLIX, which was coincidentally held in the Cardinals home stadium, but lost to the Patriots in their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions. The Cardinals, meanwhile, qualified for the playoffs with an 11–5 record as a Wild Card, but lost to the Carolina Panthers.

The following year, the Cardinals won the NFC West for the first time since 2009 with a 13–3 record. The Seahawks, meanwhile, suffered a Super Bowl hangover with a 10–6 record. The two teams split their meetings, with the Cardinals winning the Week 10 meeting in Seattle 39–32, and the Seahawks blowing out the Cardinals 36–6 in the season finale in Arizona. Both teams once again made the playoffs, and both would go on to lose to eventual NFC champion Carolina, with the Seahawks falling in the Divisional Round and the Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. This is the last time both teams made the playoffs in the same season to date.

The Cardinals and Seahawks played to a 6–6 tie in their Week 7 Sunday Night meeting in Arizona, which was also the first tie on Sunday Night Football. Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro and his Seattle counterpart, Stephen Hauschka, each missed field goals that would have won the game for either team. Catanzaro, however, kicked the game-winning field goal during the meeting in Seattle that gave the Cardinals a 34–31 victory. Seattle won the NFC West with a 10–5–1 record, while the Cardinals missed the playoffs with a 7–8–1 record, their first losing season since 2012.

Both teams missed the playoffs in 2017, with a Week 17 Cardinals victory in Seattle sealing the Seahawks' playoff fate. Both Arians and Palmer retired after the season, with Palmer missing both meetings against Seattle again, this time due to a broken arm sustained in Week 7. Palmer would ultimately go undefeated in Seattle when starting with the Cardinals, having a 3-0 record with the team at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks would go 10–6 in 2018 and sweep the Cardinals, who finished with a league-worst 3–13 record to clinch the first overall pick in the following draft.

2019–present: Kyler Murray arrives, Russell Wilson leaves

The Cardinals drafted quarterback Kyler Murray in 2019 with the first overall pick. His first meeting against Wilson was a 27–10 home loss in Week 4 that was highlighted by newly-acquired Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney intercepting a Murray screen pass that he returned 27 yards for the game's first touchdown. The Cardinals, however, beat the Seahawks in the Week 16 rematch behind 166 rushing yards and three scores from running back Kenyan Drake.

In 2020, the 5–0 Seahawks traveled to Arizona to meet the 4–2 Cardinals for a Week 7 game that got flexed into the Sunday Night Football time slot due to COVID-19 concerns regarding the original matchup (Tampa Bay vs. Las Vegas). In a back-and-forth game that went into overtime, Murray and Wilson combined for 77 completions, 748 yards, and six touchdowns through the air. However, Wilson threw three costly interceptions, including one to Cardinals rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons in overtime that set up Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez's game-winning field goal on the game's final play, resulting in the Cardinals handing the Seahawks their first loss of the season as well as beating the Seahawks at home for the first time since 2012. One of the highlights of the game was Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf chasing down Cardinals safety Budda Baker following Baker intercepting Wilson. Metcalf tracked Baker down inside the 10-yard line following a 90-yard return, and his track down proved to be important as the Cardinals could not score in the four go-to-goal plays following Baker getting taken down. Four weeks later, the two teams now sporting identical 6–3 records met for a Thursday Night Football rematch in Seattle, which Seattle won after a fourth-down sack of Murray by Seahawks defensive end Carlos Dunlap late in the game. After the game in Seattle, the teams went in opposite directions going forward. The Cardinals proceeded to finish the season 8–8, winning only two of their final six games, and were eliminated from playoff contention altogether. Seattle, on the other hand, used the victory as a springboard to a 4–1 season finish, winning the NFC West with a 12–4 record.

The following season, the Cardinals and Seahawks met in Arizona during the final week of the season in a game that had significant playoff implications for the Cardinals. While the Seahawks had been eliminated from playoff contention and clinched their first losing season since 2011 two weeks prior, the Cardinals needed a win to clinch the division title, while a loss would lead to the Rams clinching the division. The Seahawks spoiled the Cardinals' chances of a division title with a 38–30 victory, with running back Rashaad Penny sealing the win with a 62-yard touchdown run.

Following the 2021 season, the Seahawks traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Wilson ended up compiling an 11–8–1 record against the Cardinals, including a 7–2–1 record in Arizona. Coincidentally, Wilson's first and last games as the Seahawks QB, as well as his first and last touchdown passes as a Seahawk, came against the Cardinals in Arizona.

Season-by-season results

St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks Season-by-Season Results
1970s – 1990s (Cardinals, 5–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1976 Cardinals 30–24 Kingdome Cardinals 1–0 Seahawks join the National Football League (NFL) as an expansion team and are placed in the National Football Conference (NFC) and the NFC West. In the following season, the Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers switched places, with the Seahawks moving to the American Football Conference (AFC) and the AFC West, where they would remain until the 2002 season. Game was Seahawks' inaugural franchise game. 1983 Cardinals 33–28 Busch Memorial Stadium Cardinals 2–0 First and only meeting in St. Louis and at Busch Memorial Stadium. 1989 Cardinals 34–24 Kingdome Cardinals 3–0 Cardinals relocate to Phoenix, Arizona last season. 1993 Cardinals 30–27(OT) Kingdome Cardinals 4–0 1995 Cardinals 20–14(OT) Sun Devil Stadium Cardinals 5–0 First meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, and at Sun Devil Stadium. Cardinals rename themselves to "Arizona Cardinals" last season. 1998 Seahawks 33–14 Kingdome Cardinals 5–1 Final meeting at Kingdome.
2000s (Tie 8–8) Season Season series at Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks Overall series Notes 2002 Tie 1–1 Seahawks 27–6 Cardinals 24–13 Cardinals 6–2 During the NFL realignment, Cardinals and Seahawks are placed in the NFC West, resulting in two meetings annually. Seahawks open Seahawks Stadium (now known as Lumen Field). Seahawks record their first road win against the Cardinals. 2003 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks 38–0 Seahawks 28–10 Cardinals 6–4 2004 Tie 1–1 Cardinals 25–17 Seahawks 24–21 Cardinals 7–5 2005 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks 33–19 Seahawks 37–12 Tie 7–7 Last meeting at Sun Devil Stadium (now known as Mountain America Stadium). Seahawks sweep the NFC West for the first time in franchise history. Seahawks lose Super Bowl XL. 2006 Tie 1–1 Cardinals 27–21 Seahawks 21–10 Tie 8–8 Cardinals open University of Phoenix Stadium (now known as State Farm Stadium). 2007 Tie 1–1 Cardinals 23–20 Seahawks 42–21 Tie 9–9 2008 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals 34–21 Cardinals 26–20 Cardinals 11–9 Cardinals sweep the NFC West for the first time in franchise history. Cardinals lose Super Bowl XLIII. 2009 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals 31–20 Cardinals 27–3 Cardinals 13–9 In Seattle, Cardinals record their largest victory over the Seahawks with a 24–point differential. As of November 20, 2024, this remains the most recent season the Cardinals swept the season series against the Seahawks.
2010s (Seahawks, 12–7–1) Season Season series at Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks Overall series Notes 2010 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks 36–18 Seahawks 22–10 Cardinals 13–11 2011 Tie 1–1 Cardinals 23–20(OT) Seahawks 13–10 Cardinals 14–12 2012 Tie 1–1 Cardinals 20–16 Seahawks 58–0 Cardinals 15–13 Seahawks draft QB Russell Wilson, who makes his NFL debut in Arizona. In Seattle, Seahawks set franchise records for their largest victory overall with a 58–point differential and their most points scored in a game. 2013 Tie 1–1 Seahawks 34–22 Cardinals 17–10 Cardinals 16–14 First meeting between Carson Palmer and Wilson. Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII. 2014 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks 35–6 Seahawks 19–3 Tie 16–16 In Arizona, Seahawks clinch the NFC West with their win. Seahawks lose Super Bowl XLIX. 2015 Tie 1–1 Seahawks 36–6 Cardinals 39–32 Tie 17–17 In Seattle, Cardinals score their most points in a game against the Seahawks. 2016 Cardinals 1–0–1 Tie 6–6(OT) Cardinals 34–31 Cardinals 18–17–1 In Arizona, Seahawks' K Stephen Hauschka and Cardinals' K Chandler Catanzaro missed short field goals that would have won the game in overtime. 2017 Tie 1–1 Seahawks 22–16 Cardinals 26–24 Cardinals 19–18–1 Cardinals eliminate Seahawks from playoff contention with their win. 2018 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks 27–24 Seahawks 20–17 Seahawks 20–19–1 Both games were decided by game-winning Seahawks' field goals. Seahawks take the lead in the season series for the first time. 2019 Tie 1–1 Seahawks 27–10 Cardinals 27–13 Seahawks 21–20–1
2020s (Seahawks, 6–2) Season Season series at Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks Overall series Notes 2020 Tie 1–1 Cardinals 37–34(OT) Seahawks 28–21 Seahawks 22–21–1 2021 Tie 1–1 Seahawks 38–30 Cardinals 23–13 Seahawks 23–22–1 Game in Arizona was Russell Wilson's final game as a Seahawk. Seahawks' win prevents the Cardinals from clinching the NFC West. 2022 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks 31–21 Seahawks 19–9 Seahawks 25–22–1 2023 Seahawks 2–0 Seahawks 21–20 Seahawks 20–10 Seahawks 27–22–1 Game in Arizona was Pete Carroll's final game as head coach of the Seahawks. 2024 December 8 November 24 Seahawks 27–22–1
Summary of Results Season Season series at St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks Notes Regular season Seahawks 27–22–1 Seahawks 13–10–1 Seahawks 14–12 Cardinals are 1–0 in St. Louis (1983).

See also

• List of NFL rivalries
• NFC West

References

General

• Cardinals vs Seahawks Results